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Incident Context: Interference with professional duties

Interference with professional duties

The YouTube channel of the regional online media outlet “Sapikhvno” has been shut down.

On August 16, the regional online media outlet “Sapikhvno” announced that its YouTube channel had been deleted. The publication covers news from the high mountainous region, produces podcasts and video content, and stands out for its critical, pro-European editorial stance.

According to “Sapikhvno,” the YouTube channel was created this year, and multiple people worked voluntarily on its development. The publication noted that significant effort had been invested in producing video materials, including a podcast. The media outlet appealed to its audience for assistance, stating that it needs technical support or the means to contact the relevant YouTube department to restore the channel.

The deletion of the channel raises additional questions regarding the digital security of regional and critical online media, as well as the protection of their access to platforms.

Following a repeated attack on journalist Koba Partenadze, he was placed under administrative arrest

On August 16, in Batumi’s Europe Square, Adjara Public Broadcaster journalist and meteorologist Koba Partenadze was attacked again. According to Partenadze, police officers and an emergency medical service team were present at the scene.

This is not the first instance of an attack and threats against Koba Partenadze. Previously, Partenadze shared a video on social media where an unknown man can be heard threatening to take him aside and stab him. Two individuals were arrested in connection with this case. Later, the Batumi City Court imposed a bail of 7,000 GEL each as a preventive measure on the two individuals accused in the case involving violence and the threat of stabbing carried out against Partenadze.

On August 17, reports emerged that Koba Partenadze himself had been arrested. According to his lawyer, Partenadze was placed under administrative arrest at the 2nd division of the Batumi City Police Department and is currently being held in the Zestaponi temporary detention center. The lawyer stated that they are clarifying the grounds and motive for the arrest at this stage.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Partenadze was arrested on the grounds of petty hooliganism and disobedience to a lawful police demand. The agency stated that on August 16, while being interviewed as a witness in a criminal case related to him, Partenadze verbally abused law enforcement officers, which led to the initiation of administrative proceedings. The MIA also stated that during the night hours of August 17, Partenadze was disturbing public order in Batumi with loud cursing and swearing, refused to obey the demands of police officers, and insulted them.

On August 18, Judge Aleksandre Goguadze found Koba Partenadze guilty of an administrative offense and fined him 2,000 GEL.

The Court of Appeals did not uphold the appeal in the case of the dismissal of ‘Real Space’ employees

On July 14, Tbilisi Court of Appeals Judge Shalva Kakauridze dismissed the appeal of the employees of “Real Space” (Realuri Sivrce)—a program closed by the Public Broadcaster—regarding their dismissal from the television station.

Ketevan Kapanadze, Ioseb Katsitadze, Tamar Mshvenieradze, Omar Tsotsoria, and Tukha Kvinikadze were demanding the annulment of their dismissal order. The Court of Appeals left the decision of Tbilisi City Court Judge Liana Kazhashvili unchanged.

On April 11, 2025, the Public Broadcaster dismissed the host of “Real Space,” Nino Zautashvili, and the host of “Moambe,” Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani. From May 1, the program “Real Space” was closed, and the contracts of those team members who refused new offers were terminated.

Parliament Suspends Accreditation of “TV Pirveli” Journalist Nata Kajaia for One Year

The Parliament has suspended the accreditation of “TV Pirveli” journalist Nata Kajaia for a period of one year. The Parliament’s decision regarding this was made public by journalist and TV presenter Nodar Meladze.

The reason for the one-year suspension of Nata Kajaia’s accreditation was recording an interview with a Member of Parliament despite their refusal.

The Parliament had previously made decisions against Nata Kajaia twice—first in 2024, and the next time in 2025, when the journalist’s accreditation was suspended for a period of six months.

The tightening of rules for the media in the legislative body began in February 2023. Several security measures were introduced in the Parliament, during which non-accredited journalists are banned from entering the Parliament. Also, it became possible to suspend a journalist’s accreditation based on a Member of Parliament’s request. Furthermore, from January 1, 2026, a new rule for issuing one-time special accreditation came into force, which also created additional barriers for journalists. All these measures have been repeatedly used against journalists.

Parliament Suspends Accreditation of “TV Pirveli” Journalist Maka Chikhladze

The Parliament has suspended the accreditation of “TV Pirveli” journalist Maka Chikhladze. Nodar Meladze, a journalist and TV presenter for TV Pirveli, published a post about this on social media. Chikhladze’s accreditation was suspended for a period of 6 months. The reason was continuing an interview despite a Member of Parliament’s refusal.

“In the last three weeks, three journalists from ‘Shabatis Eteri’ [Saturday Broadcast] Maka Chikhladze, Maka Andronikashvili, and Natalia Kajaia have had their Parliament of Georgia accreditation suspended for 1, 6, and 12 months, based on completely unsubstantiated grounds! When they don’t want to answer questions, the simple solution is to block the journalists,” Nodar Meladze wrote on Facebook.

The tightening of rules for the media in the legislative body began in February 2023. Several security measures were introduced in the Parliament, during which non-accredited journalists are banned from entering the Parliament. Also, it became possible to suspend a journalist’s accreditation based on a Member of Parliament’s request. Furthermore, from January 1, 2026, a new rule for issuing one-time special accreditation came into force, which also created additional barriers for journalists. All these measures have been repeatedly used against journalists.

Parliament Suspends Accreditation of “TV Pirveli” Journalist Maka Andronikashvili

The Parliament has suspended the accreditation of “TV Pirveli” journalist Maka Andronikashvili for a period of one month. Nodar Meladze, a journalist and TV presenter for “TV Pirveli,” published a post about this on social media. The reason for the suspension of her accreditation was continuing an interview despite a Member of Parliament’s refusal.

“In the last three weeks, three journalists from ‘Shabatis Eteri’ [Saturday Broadcast] Maka Chikhladze, Maka Andronikashvili, and Natalia Kajaia have had their Parliament of Georgia accreditation suspended for 1, 6, and 12 months, based on completely unsubstantiated grounds! When they don’t want to answer questions, the simple solution is to block the journalists,” Nodar Meladze wrote on Facebook.

The tightening of rules for the media in the legislative body began in February 2023. Several security measures were introduced in the Parliament, during which non-accredited journalists are banned from entering the Parliament. Also, it became possible to suspend a journalist’s accreditation based on a Member of Parliament’s request. Furthermore, from January 1, 2026, a new rule for issuing one-time special accreditation came into force, which also created additional barriers for journalists. All these measures have been repeatedly used against journalists.

Parliament Suspends Accreditation of “Formula” Journalist Nini Balanchivadze for 6 Months

The TV company “Formula” journalist Nini Balanchivadze has had her Parliament of Georgia accreditation suspended for 6 months.

According to information released by the television company, the Parliament accuses the journalist of violating Article 15, Paragraph 2, Sub-paragraph of the rules for the accreditation of media representatives. This implies, “in case a member of the Parliament of Georgia, an employee of the Apparatus, or a visitor to the Parliament refuses to record an interview, to terminate the interview.”

The explanatory letter sent to the television company refers to a report that aired on “Akhali Formula” on June 23, 2026.

The tightening of rules for the media in the legislative body began in February 2023. Several security measures were introduced in the Parliament, during which non-accredited journalists are banned from entering the Parliament. Also, it became possible to suspend a journalist’s accreditation based on a Member of Parliament’s request. Furthermore, from January 1, 2026, a new rule for issuing one-time special accreditation came into force, which also created additional barriers for journalists. All these measures have been repeatedly used against journalists.

Parliament Denies “Publika” Photojournalist One-Time Special Accreditation

The Parliament has denied one-time special accreditation to Mindia Gabadze, a photojournalist for the online media outlet “Publika.”

In a corresponding application sent to the Chairman of the Parliament on June 16, 2026, “Publika” requested the issuance of a one-time special accreditation for photojournalist Mindia Gabadze for the period of June 22–26, so that he could cover Irakli Kobakhidze presenting his report in Parliament.

A month earlier, on May 21, the Parliament also revoked the one-year accreditation of four “Publika” reporters, including Mindia Gabadze. At the time, the reason given was that the accredited journalists from “Publika” had not visited the legislative body for ten consecutive weeks.

For the same reason, the accreditation of four journalists from “Monitor” was also revoked.

The tightening of rules for the media in the legislative body began in February 2023. Several security measures were introduced in the Parliament, during which non-accredited journalists are banned from entering the Parliament. Also, it became possible to suspend a journalist’s accreditation based on a Member of Parliament’s request. Furthermore, from January 1, 2026, a new rule for issuing one-time special accreditation came into force, which also created additional barriers for journalists. All these measures have been repeatedly used against journalists.

Georgia’s Parliament Tightens Media Accreditation Rules

By order eof the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, changes have been made to the parliament’s accreditation system. According to the amendments, individual journalists who repeatedly violate parliamentary accreditation rules will have their accreditation suspended for up to one year. Additionally, depending on the severity and frequency of the violations, an entire media outlet could have its accreditation revoked for up to a year.

Shalva Papuashvili justified these changes by citing a desire to adopt the practices of the European Parliament. The Speaker initially announced the potential tightening of media rules on May 14. His statement followed the European Parliament’s decision to suspend the accreditation of the pro-government broadcaster “Imedi,” a channel sanctioned by the UK for spreading Russian disinformation.

“Currently, violating accreditation rules in the Georgian Parliament results in a one-month suspension for the first offense, and a six-month suspension for a repeat offense. We have seen that a one-year suspension also exists in the European Parliament. Therefore, we will bring the Georgian Parliament’s accreditation system closer to that of the European Parliament,” stated Papuashvili.

Until now, sanctions for violating accreditation rules in the Georgian Parliament were only applied against individual journalists. Papuashvili noted that the European Parliament also imposes sanctions on entire media outlets; therefore, they will “adopt this experience as well,” making it possible to revoke a media organization’s accreditation for a full year.

The Media Advocacy Coalition views these amendments as a deliberate hindrance to journalistic work. “Under the guise of implementing European Parliament regulations, the Parliament continues to complicate the operations of independent media within the legislative body. Media accreditation mechanisms in the Parliament have already been used against independent media on numerous occasions. This creates a reasonable suspicion that the new regulations will further amplify the risk of selective and punitive approaches against the press,” the organization noted in its statement.

The tightening of rules for the media in the legislative body began in February 2023. Several security measures were introduced in Parliament, under which journalists who are not accredited by Parliament are prohibited from entering the building. It became possible to suspend a journalist’s accreditation simply based on an MP’s request. Furthermore, starting January 1, 2026, a new rule for issuing one-time special accreditations came into effect, creating even more barriers for the press. All of these measures have been repeatedly deployed against journalists.

Formula TV Journalist Verbally Abused by Unidentified Individual

Keti Tutberidze, a journalist for Formula TV’s investigative program “Saturday Formula”, was verbally abused by an unidentified individual.

The incident occurred in the city of Gori, where the journalist was preparing an investigative report on the beating of a citizen by police officers. The broadcast footage reveals that, near the residence of one of the police officers accused of the assault, an unknown individual in a vehicle with tinted windows confronted the journalist. The person defended the police officer while swearing at and verbally assaulting the journalist.